The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-12-01
TELLS HIS OWN STORY.
Anarchist Most Placed Upon the Wit
ness Stand.

AHarchlst Most Placed Upon the Wit
ness Stand.
New YORK, November 29.-When the
trial of Johann Most was resumed this
morning the defendant was called to the
witness stand to testify in his own behalf.
Ae denied that he had threatened the
executioner of the anarchists in Chicago
or anyone else. The meeting at Kroe-
ner's hall, at which the alleged speech
was made, was, he, said, pub
lie one. Mr.. Schultze was chair
man, and not Schenck, as the police testi-
fled. He addressed his hearers, he said
as "fellow-citizens," and not as anarchists
He then went on to give his version of the
speech he made. 1t lacked the threats
and violent language he is charged with
having uttered. Gas to the cry of re-
veuge uttered in the audience" he went
gu, II said, Not now. The capitalists are
arraying against US; we are here to ac
cuse, and 1 accuse Grinnell, Gary and the
Judges of murder" He had de-
sorlbed PoWderly as an instru-
ment in the execution, by not
aking sides with the condemned men.
BE was not sure that he said he would
give ten years of his life to know the
hangman, and that he would strangle him.
He had never said that "for every man
killed at Chicago 500 would be slaughter
ID" Most said he was a comm 3nlstic
anarchist. "We do not fight against any
particular government" said he, 1--WE do
not especially fight the government of
the United states. We are opposed to
governments as such. We think the
power held by government should be
abolished"
"Bombs and dynamite?" asked Mr..
icoll.
"i es; on both Sides"
Your idea is to govern peaceably if
you can, by force if you must"
THAT is history. We believe force will
be necessary in time"
Mr.. NicOll asked Most as to his belief
in Supreme Being, and Mr.. Howe OBJ
iected.
do you believe in the existence of a
Supreme Being, who pnnishes those who
give false testimony in court?" was 70
peated by Mr.. Nicoll and objected to by
Mr.. Howe, but overruled.
Answer-"I do not"
Mr.. Howe tried to mend matters. He
said: "Do you believe in great first
eause?"
II say" said Most, "as Socrates did: we
know that we do not know"
At the conclusion of Most's examina-
tion the judge charged the jury, stating
that Most was not on trial for his past
life nor his belief, but for his speech at
Kroemer's hail. sour love of freedom
mas made us do away with many restric
tioDs. We are jealous of our liberties.
Free speech does not mean that AN
individual has right to SANDER his
neighbor, or to incite riot. We do not
tolerate license. We encourage freedom.
We throw open our gates for all to come
in and enjoy citizenship, which we esteem
q greater privilege than to be king. We
marvel that in this country, where every
one is so free, there should be such men as
anarchists, and ask what more do they
want?
Revolutions have come from injustice,
but never from Justice"
After going over the testimony care
fnly the judge concluded by saying he
failed to find anything in the speech of
Most, as he gave it at the trial, that came
within the statute. The jury retired at
$50, and at 10 o'clock entered the court
room and rendered verdict of guilty, as
charged in the indictment.